Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1325: Chapter 1321: Disappointment

Ma Liwen said that Huo Sining has a good relationship with the higher-ups in the China Jade Association, and also mentioned that there were issues with Huo Sining’s exam paper. The subtext of these words clearly suggests that Qin Lianshan and the China Jade Association were being partial, secretly helping Huo Sining cheat, and leaking the exam questions to her beforehand.

These words were essentially a public slap in the face to Qin Lianshan and the China Jade Association, even raising suspicions about the Forbidden City.

One must remember that this examination was co-hosted by the China Jade Association and the Forbidden City. If there were issues within the China Jade Association, does it imply that the Forbidden City is also involved in shady operations?

Upon hearing Ma Liwen’s words, both Qin Lianshan and Huang Zhenlong were furious, their faces turning green. Even Shi Qingyun and Zhuang Xiangyang were glaring angrily at Ma Liwen with dark expressions.

Where did this mad dog come from, biting whoever it sees?

”Mr. Ma, please consider the consequences of your words before speaking!”

”I don’t know where you heard such things, but I must defend myself this time. Before the exam, I received no inside information. Believe it or not, that is the truth.”

”As for your claim that I have a good relationship with the China Jade Association, that is undeniable. Being in the same association, of course, the relationships are not bad. If that’s how you want to put it, I would also like to say that you are an expert from the Forbidden City and Elder Jia’s prominent student. Aren’t those relationships strong too? Did Elder Jia also leak the questions to you this time?” Huo Sining asked calmly.

The seemingly bland words were actually sharp and cunning, making Ma Liwen’s face turn deathly pale.

At this moment, he finally realized that his previous words offended not only the China Jade Association but also implicated several other veteran experts and even his own mentor.

Ma Liwen’s heart was thrown into utter chaos. He quickly glanced toward the back of the hall.

Huo Sining followed his gaze and noticed that, at some point, a senior gentleman had appeared at the very back of the hall.

The old gentleman was leaning on a cane, around the same age as Zhou Shitao. Although Huo Sining had never met him, seeing Ma Liwen’s somewhat panicked expression, she guessed the person’s identity.

This should be the esteemed Jia Bingrong, Elder Jia, who was highly praised as a peer of Zhou Shitao.

Jia Bingrong had heard all of Ma Liwen’s previous words, and his gaze toward Ma Liwen was now filled with disappointment and heartache.

For years, Jia Bingrong put all his effort into teaching his students how to appraise treasures and be decent human beings. He only had five disciples graduate under him, and every single one was an elite in the industry.

These disciples were called elites not only because they could hold their own in the field but more so because their character and reputation were well-regarded.

Ma Liwen was the last closed-door disciple he accepted, and the reason for that was because of Ma Liwen’s perception and cleverness.

Ma Liwen was the most perceptive and talented among the disciples Jia Bingrong had taken in. Over the years, Ma Liwen had learned a lot from Jia Bingrong and had performed exceptionally well in front of him. Jia Bingrong had never seen Ma Liwen show such an ugly side.

Sometimes, the more you trust someone, the harder it is to see through their thoughts.

It is said that the person involved might be confused while the onlookers see clearly. Jia Bingrong’s blind trust in Ma Liwen did not mean that Qin Lianshan and Xu Shilong couldn’t see through Ma Liwen’s intentions.

Ma Liwen’s eyes gleaming with desire and greed might fool Elder Jia but couldn’t deceive those two old foxes who had maneuvered through political and business arenas for years.

”Hmph,” Huang Zhenlong snorted discontentedly, ”Old Jia, since your disciple is dissatisfied with this arrangement, why don’t we arrange an additional test this afternoon? Whoever can surpass Miss Huo Sining among the top twenty in this assessment can take the captain’s position for this international treasure appraisal conference!”

Qin Lianshan also agreed with this decision. Although he wasn’t sure what Huang Zhenlong was planning, given Huo Sining’s abilities, the chance of anyone surpassing her was extremely slim.

This decision was quickly communicated to every appraiser present.

Huo Sining appeared exceptionally calm about this decision. Whether she became the captain didn’t matter much to her, but she was somewhat annoyed by Ma Liwen’s nonsense and slander dragging Qin Lianshan and the China Jade Association into the mud.

It didn’t matter to her, but Qin Lianshan, at such an advanced age, still persevered as the chairman of the China Jade Association despite having cancer. Ma Liwen’s distortion of facts and confusion of right and wrong would surely affect Elder Qin’s reputation.

Seeing Qin Lianshan’s unpleasantly pale face, Huo Sining made up her mind.

Even if it was just to show off, she decided to challenge Ma Liwen once, letting this ignorant so-called ”expert” know what it means to be a true appraisal master!

After lunch, the appraisers who participated in the examination gradually returned to the hall. Although most of them were eliminated, they were unwilling to leave because of the extra test in the afternoon, hoping to witness this exciting additional test firsthand.

The appraisers who ranked in the top twenty in the morning assessment sat on the platform early, and everyone, including Ma Liwen, waited nervously and expectantly for the empty seats on the stage.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, Qin Lianshan and Jia Bingrong entered the hall one after another, followed by Shi Qingyun, Zhuang Xiangyang, and Xu Shilong—five venerable seniors with considerable status and prestige in the circle, and even Cai Limin, the Vice Chairman, was not among them.

”Why hasn’t Old Huang arrived yet?” Qin Lianshan also found it strange.

This additional test was suddenly decided by Huang Zhenlong. Even he and Jia Bingrong didn’t know what the content of the test would be.

Time had already come, yet Huang Zhenlong hadn’t appeared. Could he have forgotten such an important matter?

Jia Bingrong also shook his head, contemplating whether to call Huang Zhenlong to inquire when suddenly the door to the hall was pushed open forcefully. Several guards carried a large box and walked straight in, with Huang Zhenlong following behind, wearing a mysterious smile.

”Old Huang, what are you...”

Seeing the guards carrying a box to the podium, everyone in the hall looked puzzled and confused. Qin Lianshan felt like a bewildered monk and directly asked.

”I’ve brought out the treasured bottom of my trunk from home. Let’s see if they can spot any issues based on their skills,” Huang Zhenlong said, smiling somewhat smugly.

Qin Lianshan paused at these words, quickly comprehending what it entailed, and looked at Huang Zhenlong in amazement: ”You mean...”

Huang Zhenlong nodded with a smile and walked straight to the podium, taking items out of the wooden box one by one.